Apparatus for sealing dielectric materials



H. HACKLANDER APPARATUS FOR SEALING DIELECTRIC MATERIALS Filed Sept. 24, 1949 Sept. 2, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Hams Mac/Man 61/61/- Sept. 2, 1952 H. HACKLANDER 2,609,481

APPARATUS FOR SEALING DIELECTRIC MATERIALS Filed Sept. 24, 1949 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 SephZ, 1952 H. HACKLANDER APPARATUS FOR SEALING DIELECTRIC MATERIALS 7 Filed Sept. 24, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 fibbomow Patented Sept. 2, 1952 UNITED STATE S PATEN T OF FICE APPARATUS FOR SEALING DIELECTRIC MATERIALS l Hans Hacklander, Linden, N. J assignor to The Singer Manufacturing Company,

Elizabeth,

N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application September 24, 1949, Serial No. 117,680 7 Claims. (01. 219-47) 1 7 This invention relates to apparatus for sealing dielectric materials and more particularly. for

continuously sealing together plies of thermoplastic materials by the application theretoof a radio-frequency electric field.

Heretofore, it has been customary to employ feed wheels in the line of seam or to one side of the line of seam for feedin the material past the electrodes. In the former case, the material in the line of seam being rendered soft by the action of the field, does not present a satisfactory area to which to apply traction, and erratic feeding results. In the latter case, the bonding electrode is separate from the feed wheel, and, although the traction is applied to an area not softened by the field, it is diflicult to feed the top and. bottom plies evenly especially when thick material is used. To overcome these difiiculties, it is proposed according to the invention, to employ a clamp feed'system in which the work is seized equally on both sides of the line of seam and is positively carried forward intermittently, the bonding occurring in the intervals during which the clamp returns to its initial position to begin the next feeding stroke.

Ithas been found important in bonding materials of varying thickness to apply the radiofrequency field in pulses of time length proportional to the thickness. This is pointed out and described in the U. S. patent application Serial No. 47,356 of H. Hacklander et al., filed September 2, 1948, to which further reference may be had for a more complete discussion of this problem. One

difliculty with the structure set forth therein recording to the present nvention, to operate the switch which turns the oscillator on and oil, by

means separate from that which provides lift for the electrode, and further to provide adjustment for said means to allow the switch operation to be variably timed relative to the electrode position, so that the switch may be opened before the electrode begins its upstroke.

.It is, therefore, a primary object oi-this invention to provide a machine for continuously welding thermoplastic sheets, in which machinethe feeding is accomplished by intermittently apply"- ing traction to areas lying symmetrically on both sides of the line of seam.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a machine for making a continuously welded seam in thermoplastic material by intermittently applying a radio-frequency field to said material, in which machine there are independent adjustments for selecting the time of application of said field to and the removal of said field from the material relative to the respective application of pressure to and the removal of pressure from said material.

With the aboveand other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, the invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a-preferred embodiment of the invention, from which the several features of the invention and the advantages at tained thereby, will be readily understood-by those skilled in the art. ,j

. In the drawings, Fig, 1 is a longitudinal section, partly in elevation, taken lengthwise through a machine embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front end elevation, partly in section, showing the head of the machine of Fig. 1 with the cover-plate removed.

F g. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section, partly in elevation, taken on line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section, partly in elevation, taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section, partly in elevation, taken on line 66 of Fig. 2.

Fig. '7 is a vertical section, partly in taken on line 'l'l of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section, taken on 8--8 of Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 1, a machine is shown, comprising a bed I, from which rises an upstanding hollow standard 2 having an overhanging arm :3 terminating in a head 4. Journaled in bearings 5 and 6 in the overhanging arm 3 is an armshaft 1, to one end of which is afiixed a drive pulley 8 formed with a groove 9 for receiving a belt for connection to a driving source (not shown).

Also journaled in bearings in the overhanging arm 3 is a countershaft Ill positioned in parallel relation to the arm-shaft l and positively driven therefrom by means of peripherally grooved pulelevation,

line

leys I I and I2 and mating belt I3 as shown most clearly in Fig. 4. The pulleys II and I2 being of the same diameter, the shafts 'I and Ill operate at the same rotational speed.

A pitman I5 is connected at one end to the armshaft 7 through an adjustable eccentric I5 and thus .endwise movement is imparted to said pitman upon rotation of said shaft. The adjustable eccentric I5 is fully shown and described in the U. S. Patent No. 2,161,579 of R. Kaier,

- dated June 6, 1939, and reference may be. had

thereto for a more complete description thereof; As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4, a bell-crank lever I6 is pivoted on a stud 11 secured in the upstanding standard 2. Oscillating movement is imparted to said bell-crank lever by connection with the pitman I4 at I8.

A rock-shaft I9, journaled in bearing in the bed I is connected by acrank-arm 2B and a link 2I to said bell-crank lever I6, from which connection a to-and-fro oscillating motion is imparted to said shaft I9. A- shaft 22, which extends externally beneath theoverhanging arm 3, is journaled in bearings 23 and 24, respectively, in the head 4-and standard 2', and is connected to said bell-crank lever Ifiby a crank-arm 25 and link 25, whereby a rotary oscillating motion is imparted to said shaft 22.

Thus, the four shafts I, I0, I9 and 22 are positfvelylinked together, and one complete revolution of the arm-shaft 1 results in a complete revolution of the countershaft I8, and one complete cycle of operation of each of the shafts I9 and 22, which fixed relation is important in properly correlating the four functions of feeding, application of pressure, sensing of thickness, and application of the electric field, as will be explained presently.

Secured to one end of the shaft 1 is a disc.2'l carrying an eccentric pin .28 on which is mounted a roller bushing 29 retained thereon by a cap screw 30; Surrounding said roller bushing 29, andsuitably securedthereto, is a wear collar. 3|.

A fork 32, pivoted at 33, has its lower limb 34 in contact with the collar3 I, and. rising and falling movements are imparted to it by rotation of the shaft I.

A feed-bar is journaled for vertical reciprocationin a frame 36 secured to one end of the shaft 22, which thus imparts to the. fram and hence to the feed bar a swinging motion. A compression spring 31 embraces the feed bar 35 and isheld betweenan adjustable stop 33 secured to the bar 35 and a bracket '39 secured. to the frame 36; This provides a downward biasing force to the bar 35, against which forcethe baris'lifted by means now to be described.

Secured to th upper end .of the feed bar 35 is which time the work remains stationary in posi- F tion for bonding.

As illustrated moreparticularly in Figs. 1 and 5, a slide block Mispivotally carried by a rock arm by means of a pivot screw 46. The rock arm .45 isformed with a split hubportion 41 which embraces and is secured'to the-rock shaft I9 by means of a screw 88.

A cross-head 49 is slidably secured on hearing blocks 50-59 secured to the under side of the bed i by screws 5I-5I and is given a linear toand-fro motion by the slide block 44 which is disposed in a guideway 52-52 formed in the crosshead 49. Secured to the upper surface of said cross-head 49 by screws 53-53 is a feed-dog 54 formed with two spaced apart upstanding limbs, lying. one on eachside of the line of seam. Each limb terminates in a serrated portion 55-55 lying slightly above a work-supporting plate 55 secured to the bed I by screws 51-51. The feeding foot 42 has its lower portion bifurcated (see Fig. 8) to provide two spaced apart, serrated work-engaging surfaces 58-58adapted to cooperate with the serrated portions 55-55 of the'i'eed-dog 54 to progressively but intermittently feed work, represented by 59, through the machine.

Theshaft illicarries at one end a disc 59 formed with an. eccentric pin 50 carrying a roller 6i whichformsa lift cam for a presser member to be described presently. Twodiscs 62 and 63, are pivotally mounted eccentrically on a pin 64 secured to said pin 60. The discs are formed with slots 55 and 66, respectively, through which a screw 61 reaches to secure said discs 52 and 63 together and to. the pin 60. As shown best in Fig. '7, the discs 62 and 63 provide, in effect, an adjustable eccentric as they may be brought together to form a surface concentric with that of the roller 6 I, or they may be spread apart to provide either earlier or later lift and release as may be. desired. It is apparent that this adjustment is completely independent of the other lift eccentries.

A presser bar 68 is journaled for vertical reciprocation in bearings 69,10 and TI in the head 4. A lift-lever I2 is pivotally secured to a rockarm I3 by means of a cap screw I4, and the rockarm I3 is, in turn, pivotally mounted on the head by means of a cap screw "I5. At a point intermediate .the ends thereof, the lift-lever I2 is pivotally connected to a split yoke I6 which surrounds and is secured to the presser bar 68 by means of a screw 11. The lift lever 12 is formed at its free end, with an upstanding portion I8 which terminates in a portion which overlies and presents a flat bearing surface 85 to the lift cam 6|. As thus constructed, it is evident that, as the cam 6I turns, it will periodically lift one end of the lever I2, which lift is imparted to the presser bar 68 to. cause a presser foot "I9, secured to the lower end thereof, to be periodically raised out of pressure contact with the work 59. The presser foot. I9 is bifurcated to provide, at its workengaging end, two spaced limbs each positioned symmetrically onopposite sides of the seam line as shown best in Fig. 8.

An electrode bar is formed with lateral arm portions 8|, 82 and I2I in which are bearings 83, 84 and I22, respectively, which structure, embracing the presser-bar BBjsupports said electrode bar for vertical reciprocation parallel to said presser bar 68. To prevent the electrode bar 80 from swinging sidewise about the presser-bar 68, the lateral arm portion 82 of said electrode bar has its free end I23 constrained to move vertically within a guideway formed between a portion I24 of the head 4 and a finger I25 secured to said head by means of a screw I26. The electrode bar 80 is biased downwardly by means of a compression spring 85' which embraces the presser-bar 68 and bears against the upper surface of the arm portion 82. The upper end of the spring 85 engages an oifset'stop member 86 which is adjustably secured to the head 4 by means of a screw 81. The upper end of the electrode bar 80 is formed to provide a cross-bar 88 which overhangs the lever I2, so that the lift of said lever imparts a lift to the electrode bar, as most clearly shown in Fig. 3.

Adjustably secured to the upper end of the presser-bar 68 by means of screws 89--89 is a switch bracket 90 which is formed with an upstanding cylindrical portion 9I containing a piston 92 which is free to reciprocate within the bore of the bracket-portion 9|. The piston 92 is formed with a hardened stud 93 which is wiped by the discs 62 and 63 to lift said piston during certain portions of the revolution of the shaft I0. A rod 94 connects the piston 92 with an arm 95 to'one end of which is adjustably secured an elec-' trical contact 96. A compression spring 91 surrounds the rod 94 and biases the piston 92 downwardly so that the contact 96 is normally in contact with" a second contact 98, except when the piston is lifted-by the action of the cam discs 62 and 63. The contact 98 is adjustably secured to a conducting block 99 which is secured to an insulation block I which, in turn, is carried by the switch bracket 90. It will be seen that this switch structure provides a variable time for its open and closed condition, depending on the free position of the stud 93 relative to the axis of shaft I0, which is determined by the position of the presser bar 68 as determined by the thicknessof the work '59. Thus, in general, for thicker work, the presser bar will be elevated to a higher position and the cam discs 62 and 63 will remain in-contact with the stud 93 for a shorter length of time which means that the switch will remain open for a shorter time or, conversely, the switch will be closed for a longer time. ;This switch operates to turn on and' off an oscillatorin the same'manner as described and set forth in the aforesaid copending application Serial No. 47,356. Reference to this application may be made for a complete understanding of the specific connections of the switch contacts with the oscillator elements.

In order to apply a downward biasing force to the presser bar 68, a leaf spring IOI has one end pivoted on a screw I02 threaded into the arm 3, while the opposite end bears upon the switch bracket 90as shown best in Fig. 2. An adjusting screw I03 is threaded in the arm 3, contacts the spring IOI at a point intermediate the ends thereof, and provides means for adjusting the pressureexerted on the presser bar.

" For manually. lifting the feed-bar, electrodebar and presser-bar to insert or remove work, a lift bar I04 is pivotally secured to the head 4 by means of a screw I05 and is biased downwardly by means of a spring I06 anchored in the head. The opposite end of the bar I04 is formed with a slot I01 which is engaged by a crank, I 08 secured to one end of a shaft 109 journaled in the arm 3. Secured to the shaft I 09 adjacent the opposite end is a lever arm IIO (Fig. 4) adapted to receive connections to the customary manually operatedlifter devices.

When the bar I04 is lifted, a vertically extended end-portion I I I thereof engages the lever I2 and lifts the presser bar 68 and also the electrode bar 80 through the agency of lever I2 and cross-bar 88. A split collar H2 is secured to the feed bar 35 and is formed with an overhanging portion I I3 which is engaged by the lever I04 for imparting a lift to said feed bar.

An electrode H4 is s'ecuredto the lower end of the electrode bar and cooperates with a lower stationary electrode II5 secured to an insulating block II6, which block is secured to a bracket II! by means of screws Ii8-II8. The bracket H1 is secured to the under side of the bed by means of screws II9I 19. Also secured to the bracket I H are two angle pieces I20I20 each of which has an upstanding portion which reaches through an aperture in the work-supporting plate 56 on either side of the electrode H5 and presents a cooperating surface to the corresponding limb of the presser foot 19 as best seen in Fig. 1.

It will be observed, from the above construction, that the upper electrode I I4 is connected to the machine frame and thus forms the grounded side of the oscillatoroutput circuit while the lower electrode is insulated from the machine frame and forms the hot side of the oscillator output circuit.

It will be'understood that any suitable oscillator and load tuning circuit may be used with this machine which latter may, for example, be the same as that shown and described in the aforesaid patent application Serial No. 47,356 to which reference may be had for a more complete understanding. It is sufflcient to note here that connection to the load tuning circuit is made to a screw I2I connected to the lower electrode H5.

The electrode II4 is disposed between the furcations of the presser-foot I9 which, in turn, is disposed between the furcations of the feeding foot 42 as illustrated in Fig. 8. In this manner, the presser bar and the feed bar exert their pres?- sures upon unbonded areas of the work and do not interfere in any way with the material at the seam line. This insures that the extrusion of the material at the seam is controlled solely by the electrode which may be adjusted to hold me extrusion within close limits. It also insures that the feeding traction is applied to the work symmetrically with respect to the seam line and in areas not softened by the action of the radio.- frequency field.

In operation, the work 59 is clamped between the feeding foot 42 and the feed-dog 54 and is carried forward intermittently. At the end of each feeding stroke, the feeding foot 42 is lifted from the work, the presser foot I9 descends and clamps the work in a stationary condition between said foot I9 and the angle pieces I20I20, during which condition theelectrode 4 descends onto the work, Shortly after the electrode [I4 engages the work, the switch-contacts 96 and 98. close and turn on the oscillator to .apply a radio-frequency field in the work between the electrodes, and bonding actually begins. Just before the electrode I I4 risesfrom the work 59, the switch-contacts open to remove the radio-frequency field, and terminates the bonding. The presser foot lifts and, with it, the electrode. During this bonding period, the feeding foot has returned to its initial position and is ready to begin another feeding stroke. One complete cycle of feeding and bonding, corresponding to one complete revolution of the shaft I, has been completed.

It will be observed that the electrode bar 80 is limited in its descent to the amount permitted by the lever I2 which, in turn, is controlled by the presser bar 68 in accordance with its response to the thickness of the work materials. That is to say, the maximum penetration of the electrode 4 into the work is made to depend on 7 the. thickness ofithe work,- as determinedby the presser foot.:.

The operationoflthe oscillator switch is also dependent on the:.work thickness as determined by the .pressercfoot and transmittedto the switch by the .presser barttl. A novel feature of this construction resides in the adjustability of the lift eccentric for the switch. By forming the lifting cam surfacefor theswitch from two independently adjustable discs 62 and 63, the closure of the contacts 96 and 98 may be delayed until after the electrode H4. is in contact with the work 59 on the descending stroke of the electrode. Likewise, the opening of thecontacts 96 and 98 may be advanced to occur before the electrodebegins its ascent; With thesetwo independent. adjustments, the. maximum. bonding time per cycle is secured consistent with the cri-.- terion for no sparking, viz, that no air gaps are formed while the radio-frequency fieldis effective.

The actual advance of. the material each feeding stroke and therefore the number of bonds per inch may be controlledby the setting ofthe adjustable eccentric [5, which determines the extentof the oscillation of the rockshaft l9 and the shaft 22.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is:

1. A machine for sealing together plies of dielectric material by the application thereto of a radio-frequency field, comprising clamp means for imparting intermittent feeding movements to said material, presser means for holding said material stationary at the end of each feeding move ment, electrode means for providing pressure to said material during its stationary condition, a source of radio-frequency energy connected to said electrode means to provide a radio-frequency field for said material, switch means for controlling the application and removal of said radio frequency energy to said electrode means in' timed relation to the application and removal of pressure to said material by said electrode means, cam means for adjusting the time of application of the radio-frequency field relative to the application of said pressure, and independent cam means for adjusting the time of removal of the radio-frequency field relative to the removal of said pressure.

2. A machine for forming continuous sealed seams in superposed plies of dielectric material by'the application thereto of a radio-frequency field, comprising opposed feeding elements for imparting intermittent advance movements to said superposed plies, reciprocatory presser means for holding said plies stationary at the. end of each advance movement thereof, electrode means for applying pressure to said plies during said stationary condition, a source of radio-frequency energy adapted to be connected to said electrode means for establishingin said plies a radio-frequency field, switch means for controlling the application and removal of said radio-frequency energy to said electrode means in timed relation to'the application and removal of pressure to said plies by said electrode means, cam means for adjusting the time of application of the radio-frequency field relative to the application of said pressure, and independent cam means for adjusting the time of removal of the radio-frequency fieldrelative to the removal of said pressure.

3. In a machine for forming a continuousv seal betweenv plies of dielectricmaterial by the intermittent application thereto of a radio-frequency field-in combination, upper and lower feeding elements cooperating to clamp said plies';thero.- between and to impart thereto intermittent for! ward feedingmovements, a first lift eccentric operatively connected to said upper feeding element, ar resser elementfor holdingthe plies stationary for an interval between each .of said feeding movements, upper and lower electrode elements for applying pressure to said plies while they are held stationary by said .presser element, a second lift eccentric cperatively connected to said presser element and to said upper electrode, a source of radio-frequency energy connected to said electrodes to establish an electric .field therebetween, a switch .mechanism carried by said presser element to selectively render saidfieldefi fective and ineffective, and a-third lift eccentric operatively connected to said, switch.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claimB, in which the second and third: lift eccentrics aresecured to a common shaft.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, in which the third, lift eccentric comprises two stacked discs each mounted for limited independent adjustment. about a common, crank-pin;

6. In a machine formaking continuous seals in. plies of dielectric material by the application thereto of a radio-frequency field, in combination, an upper feeding element comprising an oscillating frame, a feed bar journaled for generally vertical. reciprocatory movement in said frame, a lift eccentric for intermittently lifting said feed bar, a spring for providing a downward bias on said feed bar, and. a hingedfeeding foot secured to said feed bar, a lower feeding element comprising a feed-dog mounted for horizontal reciprocatory movement and a rock arm con-- nected to said feed-dog for imparting said movement, said upper andlowerfeeding elements cooperating to intermittently clamp said plies therebetween and impart thereto: a. forward feeding movement, an upper electrode arranged to be reciprocated into. and-out of contact with said plies, a stationary lowerelectrode positioned below the plies and'opposed to said upper electrode, upper and lower presser elementsfor engaging said plies during the time said. upperand lower electrodes are in" contact therewith, and a source of radio-frequency energy connected to said electrodes for establishing in said plies-an electric field, said'feeding foot and said feed-dog being shaped and positioned to .clampsaid plies symmetrically on both sides of acentra1 area contacted by the electrodes.

7. In a machine fOr sealingtogether plies of dielectric material vby the application. thereto :01 a radio-frequency field, in combination; means for imparting intermittent feeding movements to said material, means for holding said material stationaryfor a period between each of said feeding movements, electrode means for applying pressure to and removing pressure from said plies during said stationary periods, means including said electrode-means for applying'a radio-frequency field to and removing said radio-frequency field from said plies in the region-of the pressure application during each of said stationary periods, adjustable cam means for controlling the time of application of the pressure relative to the application of the radio-frequency field, and independently adjustable cam means for controlling the time of removal of the pressure relative to the removal of the radio-frequency field in each of said stationary periods.

HANS HACKLANDER- (Referenceson following" page) REFERENCES CITED Number The following references are of record in the 25061325 file of this patent: UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 5 1 Number Name Date 2,432,412 Hacklander Dec. 9, 1947 2,477,040 Brown et a1 July 26, 1949 Number 2,494,888 Vesconte et a1 Jan. 17, 1950 599,298 2,504,754 Sweeny Apr. 18, 1950 10 613,419

Name Date Ackerman May 2, 1950 Hacklander May 30, 1950 Hacklander et a1. Dec. 19, 1950 Snyder Jan. 23, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Mar. 9, 1948 Great Britain Nov. 29, 1948 

